True Nature Travels Blog

Wellness Trip 1

Nowadays, people resort to going on vacation solely to run away from the hard-working and tedious lives they are leading. However, many tend to return from holiday feeling even more drained. Organizing and going on a wellness trip where you can enliven all your senses, have long and relaxing spa days, meditate, and do yoga will enable you to find a greater purpose beyond tourism. While there are many resorts and wellness destinations around the globe for you to choose from, you still need some basic guidance on how to organize the best international wellness trip. Here is a guide that will get you fully covered.

 

Set a clear ‘relaxing’ objective

You can’t start browsing through various destinations before you figure out what relaxation and mindful wellness trip means for you. You need to have a clear and steady objective of what you want off your trip. For many, it’s the serenity of the ambient, while other factors like comfortable accommodation, beautiful scenery, and fitness amenities are vital. You may want solely to hold or organize spa retreats and offer quality spa treatments and dietary detoxes, so take a notebook and write down your ideas. Once you have everything sorted out, you can search for an international location.

Wellness Trip 2

Look for a lucrative destination

There is an abundance of gorgeous and peaceful wellness retreats around the globe that simply allure an individual to stay there forever. When you need to organize a wellness trip on your own, you need to be careful with your choice. Start your search by narrowing down the places that can fit within your budget. Envisioning impossible outcomes will only make you disappointed. Consider going somewhere touristy, but don’t opt for renowned retreats but many somewhere off the beaten path. Also, go off the popular seasons when there is less crowd. Chances are that you will get the most of your trip and more.


Coordinate trip wisely

Now for some technical matters. Firstly, if you are travelling by car either solo or with a buddy or two, you should find out how to drive internationally. This means that you must check the maps, roads, read the regulations, learn some foreign rules, get the necessary papers, check the rental possibilities if necessary, and others. Next, you have to schedule the sessions, provide suitable accommodation, confirm and reconfirm the timings, and of course, coordinate meals and make sure that dietary are taken care of.

Wellness Trip 3


Deal with the logistic upfront

Organizing an international wellness trip requires patience and diligence, but above all meticulous logistics. Besides transportation, transfer, meals, and food, you need to organize productive wellness activities that will enable you and the whole group to make the most out of your healthy travels. Whether you set your heart out to the beach, mountain, or a place within the rainforest, if you don’t clearly set the timing of the sessions, length, and find the right yoga teachers and trainers, you will be in for more stress. Therefore, in order not to get busy with the organization on your trip, deal with important matters upfront so that you can utterly unwind in your wellness trip.


Seek for physical tranquillity and activity

Going to a distant place where the sheer environment can help you improve your health and wellbeing is the key to an international wellness trip. Sometimes even if the surrounding can make you feel re-energized and uplifted, it may not be enough. Find a place where you can get active and have the ability to relax as well. Have some other activity in mind besides doing yoga and meditating. Think hiking, swimming, or stargazing. Organize some extra curriculum activities like writing, drawing and art sessions, learn how to play an instrument or how to cook some special international dish.

Wellness Trip 4


Have a light agenda and short sessions

You don’t want to do yoga for 5 hours in the morning and then sit and meditate for another five. No, you must set light and mindful agenda so that everyone can get the most out of their stay. If you are in a different timezone, pay attention to the jet lag that someone might be experiencing. Let your yoga or other spa sessions last up to 2 hours each or 45min of some other demanding workout. Have a short break where you would chat, drink green tea and meditate. In the afternoon, you can do other activities, roam around, and in the evening gather up to share experiences.

You aim should be to make this international wellness trip as restful and rejuvenating as possible. By following the above-mentioned guidelines you will certainly accomplish that and have a mindful and regenerating experience.

 

About the Author

Morgan Elliot

Morgan Rose Elliott is an aromatherapist, yoga instructor, animal lover, and a happily married mother of two. She enjoys reading biographies and writing poems, sunny days on the beach and any shape and form of vanilla. Crazy about the ’80s, her favorite band is Duran Duran and she is obsessed with Netflix original Stranger things.

https://twitter.com/MorganRoseElli1

True Nature Travels Blog

Yoga Guide

As more and more people around the globe are getting mindfully immersed in yoga, it has become perfectly normal to practice it wherever you go. If you are planning a holiday, or you want to organize your yoga retreat or go to one, you should strive to do your maximum to reap the benefits of it. Creating a guide that will incorporate everything you need to do can be challenging, but if you set your mind to it spiritually, everything is plausible with positive thoughts and a little bit of effort. If you desire to deepen your yoga practice and travel to exotic places at the same time, here are some tips that will ensure you’ll have a serene and fulfilling trip.

Visualize your renewal

Before you embark on an adventure of a lifetime, it is vital to visualize your aim of the upcoming trip. You want to find the location that would help you reap the mindful benefits of that yoga retreat. Very nifty advice is to visualize your experience. You need to search deep within yourself to find out what kind of destination will enable you to get the most out of your renewal. If you seek to find a place where you can reset, renew and recharge, try to resonate what will suit your best. For instance, if you want a serene ambient in combination with perfect weather and breathtaking environment, then you should consider a yoga retreat in LakeAtitlán, Guatemala.

Do thorough research

Very often people believe that is simply necessary to travel all across the world to some exotic yoga retreat to get the most out of your experience. Some of those exotic places like Bali or India are truly remarkable and do offer the most outstanding yoga experience that you can ask for, but they can be rather costly. Make sure that you get your money’s worth and double-check the prices of yoga studios and retreats. Do thorough research to find out whether you can really get what you have installed for. In addition, while travelling if you are planning to do a yoga teacher training program, it might be better to complete it in an exotic and renowned place. Search for an eligible and professional yoga studio that can provide everything needed to earn a certificate of a registered yoga teacher.

Pack with a positive mindset

Yoga travellers don’t fall into the same category as other cross-continental travellers. You don’t need to carry two heavy suitcases with back up clothes for every single day. Neither are you obliged to pack little mundane appliances like a blow drier or an iron. All you need is a few casual and lightweight clothes, if you are going to a warm area, a pair of slippers, Pj’s and an oral and beauty kit. Always have in mind that you are travelling for a greater purpose of indulging in the free-spirited world, so there is no need to over-pack with clothes and shoes. However, there is one thing that you will most certainly need, and that’s your yoga mat. If you are packing personal yoga mat, make sure that you find a quality yoga mat bag where you would place your mat so that it doesn’t get ruined along the way.

Take your time to find the most outstanding yoga retreats and make the most out of your travels. If you follow this guide and carefully plan out your travels, you will feel more inspired and mesmerized with the world around you.

About the Author

Morgan Rose Elliott is an aromatherapist, yoga instructor, animal lover, a happily married mother of two. She enjoys reading biographies and writing poems, sunny days on the beach and any shape and form of vanilla. Crazy about the ’80s, her favorite band is Duran Duran and she is obsessed with the Netflix Original Stranger things. https://twitter.com/MorganRoseElli1

True Nature Travels Blog

When we think of ideal yoga destinations, natural beauty and a positive environment instantly come to the mind. Amorgos is a beautiful island located in the easternmost part of the Cycladic area in Greece. Known as a top yoga retreat destination worldwide, Amorgos is truly an oasis of peace, beauty and serenity. Whilst it is a magical gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle, Amorgos island is no stranger to visitors. And even though tourist from all over the world choose the island as their dream vacation spot, it is not overly populated by people, offering just the right balance between busy and quiet. The energy here is pure and calming, empowering and cleansing. It is no wonder that many yoga groups travel here every year for their retreats.

Amorgos offers plenty of beautiful beaches, including the famous Agia Anna known for being the location of the Luc Besson movie, The Big Blue. The island also goes by this name as reference from the movie, but also because wherever you go, you will set your sight on the deep blue water of the Aegean Sea. Swimming here is a healing experience every time. Some of the must-see beaches are Aegiali Bay, Mourous beach, Agia Anna and Kalotirisia.

Beach Aegiali

And if you are seeking some grounding and quiet time, the mountains of the island welcome visitors to a truly unique hiking experience. With no dangerous wildlife (although you might see some friendly goats, donkeys and lizards), the hiking trails here welcome walking enthusiasts to enjoy some serene moments and become one with the nature. The air is fresh out there and the walking paths vary in difficulty, meaning that there is opportunity for anybody to take on the experience. Wherever you may find yourself during your walking journey, the views of the sea and the little villages around is one we can call picture perfect.

Hozoviotissa

By far one of the must-see places in Amorgos is Monastery of Hozoviotissa. Built in the 15th Century, the monastery is located 300m above sea level. Walking up the 300 steps that take
you to the Monastery, the journey up is a unique experience. On one side, you will see the crystal-clear Aegean Sea and on the other side, high stone cliffs, which the Monastery is built in. This is the second built church in Greece and it has great historical and religious significance for the country. As you reach the top and come face to face with the monument itself, you can find a quiet spot, overlooking the sea, a place ideal for meditation and moments of stillness. Another important place to visit is the old water oracle, which is now known as the Monastery St George Valsamitis. Back in the days, people used to ask the oracle for advice with their problems and dilemmas, and the answer was determined by the colour of the water. Now days, this is no longer practiced, but you can still see the water stream and visiting the small monastery is a great experience in itself.

The villages of the island are traditional, offering a cultural experience for everybody visiting. With narrow alleyways and whitewashed houses dressed in pink bougainvillea, each village offers great tavernas with Greek traditional food and heart warming hospitality. Some of the most popular are Chora (the capital of the island), Tholaria, Langagda, Aegiali and Katapola.

The island is also home to Elysia Yoga Convention, held at the famous yoga retreat location, where we offer all of our Amorgos Island Retreats. Offering 6 beautiful indoor shalas, one open rooftop and sea views from every room, the hotel is a mix of luxury, comfort and stunning Cycladic architecture, perfect for dreamy holiday photos. The convention is a yearly event happening end of March until beginning of April every year, bringing together toga teachers from all over the world and wellness enthusiasts.

Amorgos Yoga

Amorgos is beautiful to visit anytime of the year, depending on what you prefer. For a summery sunny experience, starting from May until beginning of October is a great time. Winter is beautiful here too, providing visitors with a quiet dreamy platform, ideal for meditation, self-discovery, artistic inspiration and relaxation.

Ready to head to Amorgos Island? View our upcoming Greece Retreats here.

Yoga Amorgos

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miriam Indries is a published author, yoga and meditation teacher, passionate about holistic healing. She is also a qualified Ayurveda Practitioner and NLP coach. A keen traveller, wondering soul and student of life, Miriam is the creator of Self-Elevation.com, online platform empowering others to find their greatness.

True Nature Travels Blog

True Nature was able to spend some time getting to know Yoga Teacher and Massage Therapist, Alix Northup. Take a glimpse into her upcoming retreat in Costa Rica; Connecting to Nature, Inside and Out…

 

 

TN: How does the idea of connecting to nature, inside and out, play into your upcoming Yoga Retreat, and what themes do you see coming up throughout the journey?

A: I find solace and inspiration by spending time connecting to nature.  Things go about at their own pace, without rushing.  There is a sense of deep presence and peace throughout as weather comes and goes and beings coexist in harmony.  With yoga, I begin to connect to a similar sense – of being a part of something greater and spacious. During this retreat in Costa Rica, we will “connect to nature inside and out’ both with time spent on the mat in practice and with contemplative time spent in the serenity of nature in our immediate surroundings. Through practices of mindfulness and observation, we can begin to unravel the layers that sometimes obscure this sense of connection and keep us trapped in limited beliefs.  We become explorers, in a sense, of our inner landscape and watch the changing weather inside our own minds and bodies.  By taking time to nourish our inner resources of energy and vitality, we  deepen the connection to ourselves, nature, and the world we relate to.

 

 

TN: Who has been your greatest influence and why?

A: Tias Little has been the greatest influence in my practice over the last 7 years .  Tias and his wife Surya created Prajna Yoga, where I did 300 hours of training and continue to study.  Prajna yoga is innovative, blending intelligent and mindful hatha yoga with teachings from Buddhist and Zen traditions.

A lot of the work with meditation, yoga, and gentle unwinding somatic movements we will delve into during this retreat in Costa Rica are inspired by the teachings of Tias. Tias Little is one who truly embodies his work and ‘walks the talk.’

When you find a teacher, a path, that nourishes your inner knowing, it is no longer a question. You just arrive.  Again and again.

 

 

TN: If there was a yoga pose or meditation practice that described you – what would it be and why?

A: If there was a yoga pose that best described me, I would say I relate most with the Triangle Pose (trikonasana).  In Triangle, energy is pulled in different directions yet grounded down into the earth through the feet. It can be fiery and energetic and active and also cool and contained and quiet. It strives for symmetry but has a sense of fluidity rather than becoming rigid.  I explore the different sides of myself as I practice this pose from day to day. The triangle shape itself is deep with symbolism in sacred geometry, building a sense of harmony and grace.  I draw from the energy of the triangle pose to find balance in my life, especially when things feel busy or chaotic.

 

 

TN: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions? Will these be explored in your retreat?

A: Other than yoga and meditation, I am passionate about being active and exploring the outdoors.  That is what excited me about this retreat in Costa Rica- that there will be ample time to spend with various outdoor activities  including hiking, swimming, SUP,  and surfing as we connect our practice into nature outside and get into our bodies through physical movement.  I am imaging hiking through the jungle, trying SUP for the first time and surfing in some warmer water (I’ve only surfed on the Oregon coast so far).

I am also passionate about resting and eating well, so there will be plenty of time and opportunity for that too!

 

 

TN: What is on your “Costa Rica bucket list” and what are you most excited about?

A: I love the adventure of exploring an area new to me- and as this will be my first visit to Cost Rica it is a new frontier!   I have read that the Pacific Coast of southwestern Costa Rica, where we will stay during the retreat,  is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world.  As a plant lover, my Costa Rica “bucket list” includes experiencing the rainforest and diversity within Ballena National marine park, visiting the white sand beaches of Playa Uvita and surfing, and whale watching.  Experiencing local community life and enjoying the local fresh cuisine is also something that interests me wherever I go.

 

 

TN: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?

A: I’m often inspired by the writings of John Muir about our precious connection to the natural world. I think his words are important reminders for our modern day lives. ‘Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.’

 

Learn more about her upcoming retreat:

Connecting to Nature, Inside and Out: A mindful Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
February 23 – March 2, 2019
Playa Uvita, Costa Rica

Details HERE


About Alix Northup:

Alix began her study of yoga as a teenager when her mom brought her to her first yoga class after discovering she had scoliosis. She draws from her own experience of finding balance in her body and mind to compassionately assist others on their own unique path of healing and discovery.

A student for over twenty years, Alix has been teaching yoga since 2007. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour level, recently completing 300 hours of training with her teachers Tias and Surya Little of Prajna Yoga based in Sante Fe, New Mexico. She received her Yoga for Scoliosis Teacher Trainer certification through senior Iyengar teacher Elise Miller, and continues to study yoga for back care and scoliosis with Deborah Wolk from NYC.

As a licensed massage therapist, Alix brings a deep understanding of anatomy and alignment into her teaching and hands-on adjustments. Alix offers group classes, private sessions, retreats, and workshops specializing in yoga therapeutics and back care both locally and internationally.

Alix finds inspiration and solace in nature and spends her free time exploring the outdoors through rock climbing, hiking up mountains, skiing, and surfing. At home, she enjoys gardening, cooking, playing music, and lying in savasana.

 

True Nature Travels Blog

One of the main questions asked by people who are planning on attending a yoga retreat is how to prepare properly for the experience. Even if you’ve been to a yoga retreat before, every one is different so you can’t be certain that you’re ready mentally or physically to attend. If this will be your first ever yoga retreat, you’re probably a little worried about whether you’ll be able to manage everything that’s expected of you and you’re probably thinking that if you could just be better prepared you’d feel more relaxed when you finally arrive at your destination. After all, most people don’t do yoga for two or more hours every day, and certainly not for several days in a row, so it isn’t surprising that some people are naturally a bit worried that they won’t be able to keep up with the other yogis when they arrive.

The good news for yogis old and new is that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. You’ll cope just fine, however often you’ve practiced yoga. Even if you’re completely new to it, you’ll find that you can manage perfectly well since you can just work at your own pace and explore your practice in the way that best suits you.

However, if you’re still worrying about how you’re going to ensure that you’re completely ready, here are some top tips to reassure you and get you ready for your yoga retreat experience so that you can have maximum enjoyment.

1.Keep Up With Your Practice

It’s a pretty obvious tip, but if you keep practicing before you head off to your retreat, you’ll feel more mentally and physically prepared when you arrive.

If possible, add in a couple more classes and keep your practice as balanced as possible trying different styles. A couple of weeks before you set off is definitely not the right time to begin advanced postures if they’re new to you – you don’t want to get injured just before the retreat – so hold off for a while. Even if those postures do come up while you’re at the retreat you can just explore them then.

2.Pack Light

There is absolutely no need to take tons of stuff with you to a yoga retreat, so part of your preparation should centre around what not to take rather than what you should be putting in your suitcase. You definitely won’t need 20 pairs of yoga leggings and you won’t be wearing makeup or using a hair dryer. Just pack light and keep luggage to a minimum. You’ll probably wear the same few outfits repeatedly because it’s simple and convenient, and there’s no primping or preening at a yoga retreat. Everyone just accepts each other as they are, whether they’ve got frizzy hair, bad skin or the same clothes every day!

3.Think About Your Goals

Before you go to a yoga retreat, one of the key things you should be doing is thinking about your goals. What is your sankalpa or intention for your retreat? Why do you want to go to a yoga retreat at all? What do you want to get out of it? Perhaps you want to learn to meditate more effectively, or perhaps you want to widen your yoga practice. Maybe you’re keen to rejuvenate yourself and get some deep relaxation, or maybe you’re looking for a stronger connection with yourself. Some people go to yoga retreats to heal themselves spiritually, physically and emotionally. Whatever your reasons, you should make sure that you acknowledge them and honour them. Sometimes, that will mean that when you’re at the retreat you should let go of your barriers and be brave, or sometimes it means that it’s ok to skip a yoga practice so that you can take a walk or sleep in. You need to be completely aware of yourself to get the most benefit from the experience.

4.Eat Mindfully

A yoga retreat usually offers you the chance to eat some amazing, healthful food with minimal processed products, no caffeine, alcohol or meat. That means that it can be a bit of a shock for your body if you’re used to eating fast food and sugary snacks and drinking gallons of coffee and wine.

When you’re preparing for your retreat, cut back on processed foods and flush the toxins from your system a couple of weeks before you head off. Try including more vegetables, fruits and whole foods into your daily eating plan so that you already feel good inside and out, all ready to find a more radiant and healthy self on your retreat.

5.Find Out About The Destination

When you’re heading off to a yoga retreat overseas one of the best things is getting to know an exciting new country with its own culture, heritage and sights to explore. Find out more about the place that you are visiting and learn about what that region is best known for. See if you can find sufficient time to plan in excursions so that you can really immerse yourself in the full experience of the country you are going to. Learning more about the destination that you’re going to will also get you more excited about your trip and will get you in the right frame of mind to maximise the experience.

Above all, when heading off to a yoga retreat, no matter where in the world it may be, you need to manage the expectations that you have about what you’re going to get out of the experience. Asking the retreat leader about anything you’re concerned about or anything you need clarified before you go is very important so that you’ll be well prepared for what everything will be like. If it’s your first retreat you are naturally probably quite nervous, and having the reassurance of a clear idea of what you can expect will prepare you mentally and physically for what is sure to be an amazing experience for you.

This infographic is brought to you by TantraYogaThailand.com

True Nature Travels Blog

Heidi Dietrich will be leading a yoga and meditation retreat with Italian Cooking Classes next September in Italy! Read on in this exclusive interview to learn how the idea of “Full Circle” plays into her retreat and learn more about Heidi’s greatest influences and passions.

Heidi is a RYT500 Yoga Teacher and has 108 hours of training in the heart-oriented method of Anusara. Through the dance of balancing the body, mind and spirit she guides us toward harmonizing our inner truth with our actions and experiences. Heidi’s gentle and restorative approach to the yoga practice incorporates energy work, flower essences, mantra, yantra painting, gemology and astrology as well as Yoga Nidra. Join her in Italy from September 15- September 22, 2018!

Meet True Nature Leader Heidi Dietrich

1. How does the idea of “Full Circle” play into your upcoming Yoga Retreat, and what  themes do you see coming up?

“The breath flows in and just before it turns to flow out, there is a flash of pure joy -life is renewed. Awaken into that.” – Lorin Roche

In the setting of this Living Yoga Retreat, Full Circle gives us a framework to step outside of daily demands and really meet ourselves again. Just as we reside in the NOW in the practice of yoga, travel offers a direct avenue to wake up to the magic of life, lightened of prior beliefs or thoughts, consciously embodying each moment, we digest life fully, breathe it in then let it go. Practicing yoga and meditation tools during the Retreat will strengthen the habit of relaxing into the flow of life as well as tuning into our inner callings. Find the Pause.

When we fully digest our experiences, we are more open to live in the present moment. We are invited to consider completing a project as a tribute of our time in Italy as a way of digesting the adventure and integrating the ah-ha’s. This may include a photography book, a painting, learning how to cook an Italian dish to make at your next gathering, writing letters to loved ones, planting a new garden, designing a new piece of clothing based upon Italian fashion…

Let’s ride the cycles of life, thoroughly digesting our experiences and celebrating their impact on the quilt of our lives. Inhale. Exhale. Full Circle.

2. Who has been your greatest influence and why?

From the very beginning, my organized, supportive and loving parents shaped my ability to be a conscientious human, to take responsibility for my choices, and to pursue my dreams. In the company of my best friend, Beth, I found the courage to expand my view of how the world works and branch out into entrepreneurship, creating the life of my dreams. My yoga teacher, Brenna Geehan was my inspiration to become a yoga teacher and her teaching partner, Jean Mazzie felt like a gift from God! Jean personifies the absolute freedom that called forth my authenticity and truth. And for my entire life, my sister Heather, who is also a yoga teacher, has encouraged and inspired me and … she celebrates my Wild Woman side.

3. If there was a yoga pose or meditation practice that describes you – what would it be and why?

The practice of Yoga Nidra in its peaceful, relaxing cleansing of all the layers of ourself. Savasana was what pulled me to learn more about yoga as I wanted to live wherever it was that I went when I floated into Savasana. The healing and the recharge that we experience while the whole body is completely relaxed is what I encourage everyone to remember. Relax into your True Nature.

4. Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions? Will these be explored in your retreat?

Travel, Painting, Photography, Wine, Food. When I imagine us in Italy, it includes watercolor painting on the veranda, perhaps with an afternoon glass of wine. We will have the opportunity to schedule special outings for photography shoots, explore Italian cooking classes, plus wine and olive oil tasting! We will be absolutely glowing!

5. What is on your “Italian bucket list” and what are you most excited about?

True Nature Italy Retreat6Spending rent on a pair of leather boots. Riding bikes around Italy. Strolling through farmers markets. Watching the colors of the buildings on the Amalfi coast shift in the Italian sun. Soaking in the luxurious and abundant energy of Italy. Photo-ops in the vineyards and on the coast. I am most excited about visiting a new country in the loving care of True Nature Travels and having the opportunity to once again launch into new frontiers to share and explore life with adventurous souls.

6. Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?

From the Radiance Sutras by Lorin Roche, Ph.D

The way of direct living experience begins with a breath

such as the breath you are breathing now.

Awakening into the luminous reality

may dawn in the momentary throb

between any two breaths.

 

The breath flows in and just before it turns

to flow out,

there is a flash of pure joy –

life is renewed.

Awaken into that.

 

As the breath is released and flows out,

there is a pulse as it turns to flow in.

In that turn, you are empty.

Enter that emptiness as the source of all life.

 

Enter these turning points

In the play of respiration and expiration,

Where the rhythms of life transform

Into each other.

 

Cherishing these moments,      

Mind dissolves into heart,

Heart dissolves into space,

Body becomes a shimmering field

Pulsating between emptiness and fullness..

 

In any quiet moment when you are breathing,

the breath may flow out and pause of itself,

or flow in and pause of itself.

There experience opens into an exquisite vastness

with no beginning and no end.

 

Embrace that infinity without reservation.

Dive into it, drink deeply of it and emerge renewed.

True Nature Travels Blog

Costa Rica Yoga Retreat: Join Me On The Journey.” first appeared on Love Grown Wellness. 

Costa Rica Yoga Retreat

Maybe you are on the fence about heading out on a yoga retreat. A life-changing journey in which you will be surrounded by amazing energy, stunning scenery and the opportunity to unplug. That’s right… letting go of the daily grind so you can rest, relax, restore and reconnect. Still debating? Here are a few reasons why I went on my first retreat:

1. CONNECT WITH NATURE

Many yoga retreats take place in stunning, natural locations around the world. Get out of the hustle and bustle than to go on a yoga retreat! Connect with nature on a deeper level, immersing yourself in your surroundings and taking advantage of them in a way you might not otherwise do.

2. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE ENERGY

One of the many benefits of going on a yoga retreat is taking a vacation full of positive energy! On retreat, you’ll surround yourself with positive thoughts and feelings. No need to worry about any vacation stress, just embrace the positives vibes coming your way.

3. COMMIT TO HEALTHY EATING

The food you eat on retreat is chosen with care for your health and wellbeing. Going on retreat is an opportunity to eat well without having to worry about it yourself, and it’s a wellness habit you can take home with you.

4. YOU DESERVE IT

Treat yourself to an experience by going on a yoga retreat. This is a vacation all about YOU, leave the stresses of daily life behind, let it go, you deserve it!

5. HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Every retreat is different, even if you return to the same place. The other people and your frame of mind at the time will never be the same again. A yoga retreat will always result in a unique experience, and each retreat will be different as you continue to grow within yourself.

Ride the flow of the yoga classes, move to the rhythm of the waves, allow yourself to connect deeper to yourself and others.
Book Now! Early Bird Pricing in effect.

LoveGrownWellness

True Nature Travels Blog

Bringing Your Retreat Home: How to ease back into real life after a glorious week away.” first appeared on Being Well Yoga. Thanks to author, Lisa Feder, for letting us share this amazing blog about bringing your retreat home and for her awesome tips about keeping the retreat wisdom alive long after the retreat is over!

I recently returned from leading a Yoga retreat in Costa Rica.  Long, relaxed days of waking up with the sun, enjoying delicious meals made for us with food from the biodynamic farm  at our retreat center, and extended, deep practices in the open-air studio surrounded by the rainforest.  Free time in the afternoon to reflect and journal, walk and explore, and hang out by the pool with new and old friends.  Connecting with the earth, with our fellow travelers, and with ourselves.  NOT connected to technology every waking minute. As one of the leaders of the retreat, I got to observe the shifts that the participants experienced, and to watch each retreater shine in her own way.

By the end of the week I could literally see the changes, as each person looked lighter and stronger and radiated a newfound freedom from some of the things that had held them back in the past.Then we returned home.  We were challenged by flight delays and power outages.  We had to go back to work.  We regained 24/7 access to air-conditioning and our cell phones.  We returned to our partners, friends, children, bosses and schedules.  I heard from many retreaters that they were holding tightly to what they experienced on the retreat, feeling softer, calmer and more focused.  When retreaters returned to my regular Yoga classes, I noticed the “retreat effect”—stronger practices, but also an indescribable lightness and power.  I heard from others that they road back was bumpy, challenging, and that there had been some “melt-downs”.

I experienced my own melt-down a few days after returning—complete exhaustion and lack of motivation.  I gave myself a few days, and then a few more.  After a nourishing long walk around the lake with a friend, I began to return to myself.Retreats are awesome, but they can’t last forever (sigh!). However, with a little bit of thought we can ease ourselves back into life and keep building on the effects of the retreat…at least until the next retreat comes along!Here are a few things you can do to help ease yourself back to reality following a retreat:

  1. Pace yourself.  After a week away, you may feel like you are a little behind at work, or need to catch up with friends, house projects, of even TV shows.  Take a deep breath.  And pace yourself, perhaps even giving yourself more time than you usually need for things.  Crisis at the office?  Prioritize—you can only do one thing at a time.  Use the power of presence and focus that you cultivated on retreat to help you take it one moment, one project, and one day at a time.  Social commitments overwhelming you?  Spend your time in ways that bring you joy and learn to say “no thank you” to those extra activities that you don’t renew your energy.  And build in time for yourself.
  2. Keep up your practice. Upon returning to your daily life, it is unlikely that you will have time for two practices a day, or even one long practice a day. Don’t let that derail you. Carve out some time each day. Perhaps on a busy day you only have time for a short meditation walk before work, or maybe you can schedule a class at lunch or in the evening. If the schedule at your nearby studio doesn’t work for you, do a home practice when it is convenient for you. Find a video or trust your instincts and just move in a way that feels good. What is important is that you have a little time on the mat for self-inquiry to understand how you are feeling and what you need each day.
  3. Understand that not everyone in your life has been on retreat. You may have settled down and shifted your thinking during your week away. You may have a new appreciation and understanding of what mindfulness means for you. Don’t expect that everyone in your world will have also had this shift, or will even understand it. Resist trying to teach them everything you learned during the week. Simply practice the compassion and presence you experienced on retreat and open in acceptance to those around you. It’s unlikely that your experience will profoundly change the people around you—however, you can change or reframe your response to those people or things that trigger you. And then take another deep breath.
  4. Keep some retreat habits. Did you enjoy journaling every day? Eating healthy food? Taking a break from Facebook and emails? Connecting deeply with people? You can still do that, even when you are not on retreat! Each day or week, set an intention to continue something that you felt was helpful, nourishing, fun or centering. Build that into your day. If you liked letting go of social media, keep that up. That always provides some extra free time.
  5. Stay in touch with your new retreat community. No, you might not have hours to hang out and share every story of your childhood, career, and love life. But you can send a quick text, or share an article on your community page. And this is where social media really shines—reach out to the group on FB. Share pictures and stories related to the retreat. If you find a great class, or concert or event, spread the word an invite the retreaters who live near you. Make plans to see the retreaters who live out of town when you can. We are so often on the move, things can line up. If you are having a melt-down, reach out to someone from the group—they may be going through the same thing or can offer some perspective. Don’t let too much time pass before connecting.

Even in the “real world” you can maintain the retreat effects with a bit of mindfulness.  Pause, take a deep breath and take your new perspective into your days.  And, of course, there’s always the next retreat!

About the Author:

Lisa Feder, founder of Being Well Yoga, loves teaching Yoga and Mindfulness anywhere—studios, offices, and the rainforest!  Her company, Being Well Yoga, brings Yoga on-site to the workplace so employees can work well and be well. Learn more about Lisa here!

True Nature Travels Blog

Everyone knows that yoga retreats are the best. It’s a chance to relax and nourish yourself while some fabulous teacher leads you through an incredible yoga practice. That, of course, is when you go to a yoga retreat. But what about when you teach a yoga retreat? Sure, it may not be the unplugged vacation your students are going, but there is something special you get when you teach a yoga retreat. We think of it as one of the many perks of being a yoga teacher.

Oh the places you’ll go… When you teach a yoga retreat

teach a yoga retreat abroad

Not all of us can afford a spontaneous trip to Italy or Peru, and as a yoga teacher you know that cash flow isn’t always what you’d like it be. But when you lead a yoga retreat you have an opportunity to go to exotic countries all around the world… for free. In fact, in addition to free trips to countries like Guatemala or Costa Rica, you could be getting paid to teach yoga in these magical countries.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a part of a yoga retreat somewhere exciting, but could never really figure out how to afford it, why not teach a yoga retreat in the country yourself? It’s a great way to go wherever you dream of going without breaking the bank in doing so.

It’s a great chance to bond with inspiring yogis

teach a yoga retreat community 

One of the things we love about hosting yoga retreats is the incredible bunch of yogis we get to meet along the way. Every day someone new is signing up for our yoga retreats and each individual yogi brings a world view and a lifetime of experience that is different from what we know.

When you teach a yoga retreat you open yourself up to all of these people. Even if many of them are people you have practiced with in the studio, a yoga retreat offers a different kind of bonding experience where everyone can open up and share their authentic selves with one another. What better way to get connected with the inspiring yogis in your life than to lead them through yoga practices in some of the most beautiful places on Earth?

Your own practice will grow from the experience

teach a yoga retreat self growth  

Anyone who has taught yoga knows that teaching is an incredible learning experience and every class you teach serves to deepen your own yoga practice as well. This is especially true when you teach a yoga retreat. The intensive setting of a yoga retreat steeps you in the yoga world and the constant teaching forces you to face your boundaries and redefine your limits.

Our yoga teachers are constantly raving about what they learned by teaching yoga retreats with us and we are endlessly amazed by the wisdom that so many of them find during these experiences. There is something uniquely powerful about teaching a yoga retreat… something simply teaching in a studio cannot touch.

Want to find out how you can teach a yoga retreat in some of the most amazing locations in the world? We’ve got your back.

True Nature Travels Blog

“Oh, lago de Atitlán, eres orgullo Nacional, eres la Perla más linda que Dios nos brinda.”
“Oh, Lake Atitlan, you are a national pride, you are the most beautiful pearl that God gives us.”

-Teachers in Guatemala
Guatemala Yoga Retreat
As a former public defender, thoughts of Guatemala once conjured images of shy, metal-toothed smiles beneath confused eyes. Images of clients who might speak or read only elementary Spanish, who had to face the might of the globe’s Super Power staring down at them from a federal bench. Generally, I loved the Guatemalan clients. They tended to be warm, friendly (though often shy), and very honest and hardworking. They would come to this country to create a life with clean, running water, education, and reliable housing for their children. It’s just that they didn’t have permission from the authorities to do that. As I now sit marooned in Guatemala City after a flight cancellation, my respect for the people of this rich, colorful, textured country has only grown.
  
I came to this crossroads of Mayan history, Catholic heritage, and Western growth to lead a seven-day yoga-and-meditation/mindfulness retreat on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Central America’s deepest lake, which sits almost a mile above sea level. The lake breathes beneath ancient volcanoes and rivals Hawai`i in beauty. For the guatemala yoga retreat, I stayed with a small band of American yoga practitioners at a Western-style retreat center focused on sustainable practices, natural healing, and contemplation. In the course of the retreat, we split our time between the internal practices of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation, and the extroverted practices of experiencing intentionally the world in all its gradations. On the Feast of St. James, the patron of the nearby village of Santiago, we soaked in the abundantly colorful and musical religious procession. Women wound sixty feet of red webbing around their heads to create a sort of halo, and then covered this halo with a handwoven cloth to symbolize the sun overhead. In a local home, an effigy of a local Mayan saint, Maximón, sat guarded by men smoking a cigar. We watched children in traditional dress play on cellular phones and received a ceremonial sprinkling of flower petals from a local shaman.

Guatemala Yoga Retreat Celebration

 

After three and a half hours in a shuttle and the silence of contemplating a catharsis, we arrived at La Aurora, Guatemala City’s airport, on our final day. In perfect harmony with the mindfulness and cultural exchange of the week, the airline canceled my flight and left me with the choice of how to react. Feeling some consternation, I heard a Guatemalan woman behind me telling a Colombian gentleman in a gentle, understated Spanish how she’d been a publicist for over a decade and simply left that work to become a holistic healer. She explained how warm she felt toward the milling crowd in the terminal because we seemed to handle the frustration of the flight cancellation with aplomb. We could do nothing to change the cancellation, she reminded her listener, and we seemed to accept it with grace and harmony. Listening to her completed the trip. Stranded with Mexicans, Colombians, Guatemalans, a Finn, Dominicans, and a couple other Americans, I felt the fibers that bind the human community and the call to introspection that will allow all of us to face kismet’s little pranks with grace.